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Thompson Accuses Fox of Bias Against Him

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November 25, 2007 10:18 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports During an interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, former Sen. Fred Thompson, R- Tenn., grew testy when shown clips of Fox pundits conservatives Fred Barnes and Charles Krauthammer saying that the former Law and Order actor could not win.

Thompson said such doom and gloom had been a "constant mantra" of Fox News since he got into the race.

He complained about the show's decision to show his poor performance in New Hampshire primary polls and pointed to how he is doing nationally (where some polls have him in second), in South Carolina (where some polls have him "leading or tied for the lead") and in Iowa (where third still puts him numerically ahead of Rudy Giuliani).

"For you to highlight nothing but the negative in terms of these polls and then to put on your own guys who have been predicting for four months, really, that I couldn't do it kind of skews things a little bit," said Thompson. "There is a lot of other opinion out there."

When asked by Wallace if anyone thinks he has run a great campaign, Thompson said, "It's not for me to come here and try to convince you that I've run a great campaign."

He then pointed to praise his policy ideas have received from the conservative National Review magazine.

"I understand the game of build-up and I understand the game of take-down and we all go through it. And I am perfectly willing for you to do that with regard to me as you do the other candidates. You have the right to put in your one side - to put in the Fox side - and I have right to respond to it and thankfully you've given me the opportunity to do that," added Thompson.

Wallace replied to Thompson's answer by saying, "Senator, I'm glad I asked the question because I got a heck of an answer."

November 25, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (34)

User Comments

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Thank goodness! I am very glad Fred was able to confront this head-on! My friends and I have seen the Fox bias toward Rudy for months. I guess we knew what we were talking about!

If Fred was given the same opportunity on Fox that Rudy has been given, it would be an entirely different ballgame.

Posted by: Oink | Nov 25, 2007 11:10:46 AM

Do you men these people, Thompson included, are actually capable of reading/listening??

Amazing....when did their collective IQ's go from one (1) to two (2) ????

Posted by: RB-Chicago | Nov 25, 2007 11:35:10 AM

Everyone knows that "Nixon dirty trickster/Fox News executive producer" Roger Ailes is using his network to help Rudy Giuliani out as much as possible.
Also, it's hilarious to hear a Repub crying about Fox "News" bias.
Welcome to the club, Freddie! Lol!
Fox "News" is a joke. They make Pravda look legitimate.

Posted by: OxyCon | Nov 25, 2007 11:53:26 AM

Well done Fred Thompson! It's about time. Fox is in the bag for Rudy. It's about time someone pointed out the fact that FNC only points out the negative for Fred.

FNC, with a straight face, played up Fred's performance in New Hampshire when they know full well that Fred is focusing on South Carolina, Iowa and other states. Fred correctly pointed to all of the many endorsements and positive responses to his proposals, and the fact that he is second nationally and leading or doing well in SC, Georgia, IA.

Glad Fred was able to get out there and share some of the positive about his campaign, because Fox News surely will not.

Posted by: kerrhome | Nov 25, 2007 12:02:47 PM

You Thompson fans have to be kidding
or you're just plan lying!
Since he got into the race Fred Thompson
and Mitt Romney, neither of whom has a snoballs chance in hell of winning the general election have gotten Way More
Coverage and done more interviews than
Rudy Guiliani! Thompson has no message except that he is the only, "true Conservative" in the race, whatever that means! He is Pathetic as a candidate, period!

Posted by: Reaganfan714 | Nov 25, 2007 12:09:55 PM

Forget Giuliani, Thompson & Romney, Ron Paul is the only good candidate you Republicans have. I'm a Democrat and if he's the nominee, I'm voting Republican. If Hillary is the Democrat nominee, I'm voting Republican, anyway!

Posted by: kenny | Nov 25, 2007 12:25:23 PM

GREW TESTY? He flat kicked ass!!!!!

Posted by: JOHN JAMES TERRY | Nov 25, 2007 12:29:53 PM

Re Reganfan714

Um you have to be joking! NationalReviewOnline had this to say about Fred and policy:

"It’s obvious why conservatives see something to like in Thompson. He has offered clear, conservative ideas on fixing Social Security, policing immigration, and expanding the military. We encourage the other candidates to follow his lead."

Posted by: kerrhome | Nov 25, 2007 12:34:41 PM

Anyone who watches FOX knows what Fred is saying is right on the money and good for him for calling them on it.

The transition was so obvious that I'm surprised no other competition picked up on it and spoke out but, then of course that would mean defending the only conservative frontrunner that can win the election...we can't have that now can we.

Posted by: Winghunter | Nov 25, 2007 12:54:25 PM

kerrhome: I have not heard any of these
conservative ideas in the debates so far! I have not read the national review
article, but why are his views on Social
Security, Illegal Immigration etc not
more well known?
By the way what is his policy(if any),
regarding the "war on terror"?
It is the candidates responsibility to inform the public of his(her) views, as opposed to asking them to read the national review! Thompson has not gotten his message out, clearly and concisely! That is why he leads, Nowhere in the polls, Not in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina(a tie) or nationally!
By the way the question was whether or not Fox is biased against Thompson and the answer is no! As I stated he and Romney get way more coverage on FNC than
Guiliani!

Posted by: reaganfan714 | Nov 25, 2007 12:56:46 PM

reaganfan714

Perhaps you don't watch TV, haven't seen Thompsons ads? Perhaps you don't have access to the internet? Oh no! You must, you're posting here, in that case why not, ahem, inform yourself? At


Posted by: JOHN JAMES TERRY | Nov 25, 2007 1:18:47 PM

Wow....Foxnews actually did that to one of the so called "Front Runners". Snicker...Snicker... I have laugh at this. Giuliani is bought and paid for by Foxnews, I thought everyone knew that already. Hannity loves him. This bias that Foxnews does isn't new, they have been doing it to quite a few of the other candidates as well. I choose Ron Paul, he is the man for the People and our Constitution. Fox has done the same to Ron Paul as well.

Posted by: Tess, California | Nov 25, 2007 4:16:52 PM

I guess we can discount Thompson as a serious candidate if he has not yet figured out the neocons strategy of bashing of the traditional nonpartisan media in an effort to install their party organs, such as FOX News, as alternative media outlets. This in their attempt to remain in power for generations, as Rove it.

Posted by: Luke | Nov 25, 2007 6:15:57 PM

Chris Wallace,Sean Hannity and fox news are not any more reliable than what you would find with the likes of any sleeze magazine. Anyone that watches and believes anything they see on fox news needs to get a life as fox news is no more than a talking head for neo conservatism.

Posted by: con me not | Nov 25, 2007 6:23:16 PM

Well I certainly dont hold any news reporting agency accountable for demonstraighting what the owners think is right. Giuliani is clearly the only answer to this countries terrible mess. there is certainly enough left winged media out there also. Might be enjoyable to see maybe Thompson a Vice President. Lets face facts beating out the clintons will take unity, and not the current administrations help...

Posted by: wayne | Nov 25, 2007 6:47:28 PM

Yeah, right! Keep trying, Fred! LOL

Posted by: dgfiit | Nov 25, 2007 9:16:25 PM

Thompson and Romney ought to try some
Cheese with their Whine!
Boo Hoo Hoo everybodys picking on me!
Wah Wah Wah! They both sound more like
Hillary Clinton to me!
Oh the boys were piling on! Boo Hoo,
Wah Wah!
If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen!

Posted by: reaganfan714 | Nov 25, 2007 11:15:12 PM

Fox[Faux]News,unfair and unbalanced. Dick Cheneys official news channel,enough said!

Posted by: AJ | Nov 26, 2007 1:09:35 AM

As a long time Republican, I have yet to settle on a Republican candidate. As of today, it is NOT Rudy or Hillary for sure!

Posted by: joe | Nov 26, 2007 6:24:27 AM

People who watch Fox News are easily manipulated. They will vote for whoever Fox News tells them to vote for.

Posted by: US Citizen | Nov 26, 2007 9:08:33 AM

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